$160,000 Worth of Unique, Historical Bikes Stolen in Specialized Break In

Dec 17, 2020
by James Smurthwaite  
photo

Specialized has had $160,000 worth of historic and employee-owned bikes stolen in a break-in at the brand's headquarters, Cycling Tips reports.

Among the 16 stolen bikes stolen from the in-house museum on Sunday afternoon were the S-Works Epic ridden by Jaroslav Kulhavy to Olympic gold in London, Peter Sagan’s Paris-Roubaix winning S-Works Roubaix and Ned Overend’s national championship-winning S-Works Fatboy. Company founder Mike Sinyard had two personal bikes stolen and a full-suspension road prototype dubbed the ‘Scrambled Egger' also went missing.

Morgan Hill Police Department confirms that two vehicles were used in the robbery, a Toyota 4Runner, which was later located unoccupied in Salinas, Ca, and a white box van containing the stolen bikes that is still outstanding.

photo
The white box van that police are searching for related to the break in.

A representative from Specialized told CyclingTips that as the theft occurred over the weekend, no staff were threatened or witnesses to the robbery, and on-site staff are limited because of current COVID-19 regulations.

Specialized is offering a $25,000.00 reward to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the burglary and or the return of all stolen bicycles. Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact Corporal Mindy Zen at (669) 253-4917 or the anonymous tip line 408.947-STOP (7867).

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418 Comments
  • 372 5
 Museum pieces are a weird thing to steal. There is no way you can sell something like that for anything like a fraction of its value as a piece of history. If you do buy it knowing what it is you can't display it or ride it and if you don't know what it is then its just an older high end bike. Nobody wins here, not even the thieves. Not just assholes but dumb assholes.
  • 320 26
 Okay hear me out I think I know who did it. Have you ever seen Gone in Sixty Seconds? How about the movie Con Air? And then this leads me to my final point! NATIONAL TREASURE! You might be confused at this point, asking “what does any of this have to do with anything here?”

It was Nicolas Cage! He stole it all!!
  • 23 1
 @Hardtailhooligan: It's the only explanation.
  • 11 39
flag Marasdfg (Dec 17, 2020 at 4:39) (Below Threshold)
 The thief can always sell the components on ebay.
  • 37 0
 It's a bit like the Red Bull F1 trophies stolen from the Milton Keynes factory, I think they were found dumped in a lake.
  • 59 0
 @DC1988: some people just want to watch the world burn
  • 20 3
 @Hardtailhooligan: I dunno. I hear tell they may have given George Clooney a factory tour not that long ago.
  • 2 1
 @Marasdfg: I think that someone would see it and report it, if he tried to sell it as what it really is, someone would remember this break in and call the authorities
  • 31 3
 @Marasdfg: component prices have skyrocketed recently due to the lack of supply but I think the drivetrains, brakes etc from 16 used bikes from anywhere from 8-15 years ago on ebay, even if it is top of the line stuff, is not going to be worth more than about 5-8000. The valuation of $160,000 for the complete bikes listed in the article is not their inherent value but their situational value.
  • 1 1
 @Chuckolicious: what if it was both of them who dun it!!
  • 94 0
 I heard it was intense to reverse engineer the technology.
  • 15 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: Pierce Brosnan was seen wearing a bowler hat in the area
  • 20 4
 @richardlockey: Or maybe one or more of the peeps they've sued over the years...
Can the owner of the former Roubiax bike shop verify his whereabouts over the weekend?
  • 2 0
 @DC1988: Aquaman could still use these.
  • 3 2
 beep/bop/boop
  • 27 1
 Agreed. I have a mental image of someone saying to these thieves, "Do you idiots realize how worthless these are to try to sell? Even a some of the components are recognizable..." (as being pro race bikes, probably have some unique/prototype parts on them).
Someone probably had the thought, "break into bike company HQ; steal bikes; sell bikes; profit!" without any real knowledge of what they were stealing. Not entirely "dumb" but arguably ignorant. Breaking into the warehouse and stealing as many bikes-in-boxes as they could have stuffed into that van would have been a lot more profitable.
  • 24 0
 I guess they can now claim the $25k reward?
  • 84 0
 @Chuckolicious: Oceans 11 Speed
  • 24 1
 @IanJF: Maybe but honestly, the people who would be able to pick that ONE frame out as being one ridden by ____________ in the ______________ race is so incredibly rare. If I saw one riding, I would think it was a nice bike and continue along my way. You would have to be a bike nerd on a minute level to see that it was anything special.

I am of the opinion that you could ride one of these, even in a place like SoCal, confidently. If anyone ever said anything, you could always just claim it is a replica. Lots of companies build replicas of winning frames. Unless you are riding around with serial numbers locked away in your brain, how would you know? Anyone with enough money can spec a bike out like the pros use. As long as the person is riding with a decent enough kit to match the high spec of the frame, you would just look like another dentist out for a day ride.
  • 12 0
 There probably is a market for this stuff. It's like people stealing fine art isn't it? A stolen picasso might only be worth a fraction of it's full value but still worth something to someone shady and rich. They might already be on a shipping container...or they might be dumb a*sholes!
  • 10 2
 @Hardtailhooligan: Lance Armstrong seems more likely...
  • 47 0
 They just stole the last bikes specialized had in stock. They started in the rockhopper section but that was already empty.
  • 8 0
 on the black market some rich guy might like to own an olympic bike for his collection. just like with art or antiques. its not for use but private collectors
  • 7 0
 Only 25k reward for arrest, conviction and all bikes returned. Calling Steven Seagal right now.
  • 3 5
 @Chuckolicious: That's a possibility. I guess Special Ed's museum doesn't have a night watchman?
  • 17 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: I think you mean Nicholas Bottle Cage.
  • 2 3
 @Patrick9-32: These bikes will be parted out . the individual components can easily be sold .
I suspect these bikes have already been stripped and are far away form the Bay area .
I read a police report some years ago where the professional thieves immediately take the bikes far from the area where they were stolen and then it's almost impossible for the police to trace them .
This is only going to get worse as the demand for bikes increases and the prices keep escalating into the realms of the absurd .
  • 17 12
 @ReformedRoadie: he's happily up here in Canada. I can assure you, none of us have any interest in crossing your border until the totally arbitrary date of January 21st that I'm sure has no meaning whatsoever.
  • 3 0
 @theging: this comment wins. So true
  • 2 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: 11 of his 47 houses are within a 15min drive of the Specialized headquarters.
  • 12 7
 @Korbi777 @Altron5000: No, there is no black market for Olympic bikes. It’s not like stealing fine art. Rich guys are not plotting and scheming to attain historically significant bikes illegally. It’s just not happening.

Let’s imagine for a second that there was a market for these bikes like there was for fine art or things like that. Do you think a thief could just bust into the Louvre and steal the Mona Lisa, and then sell it no questions asked? Like, “Where did you get it?” “How do I know it’s authentic?” What’s a rich guy gonna do with it after he’s bought it? Hide it in his basement?

Even if a guy has oodles of money and really wants these things, he would just go to Specialized and buy it legitimately. I’m sure they’d let it go if he offered them enough. And he’s a rich collector, right? No sweat.

No, this was just a bunch of dumb thieves who took anything they could get their hands on, convinced they can turn around and sell it.
  • 2 0
 @excavator666: This one got me. Thanks!
  • 4 1
 @Hardtailhooligan: We think he may be taking all the ti bits and melting them down to make more cages; www.twohoosierscyclery.com/salsa-nickless-cage-water-bottle-cage.html

For real this is sad though... unfortunately we know the feeling...
  • 1 0
 @Altron5000: Spot on. Collector in Europe or Russia or Middle East has the catalogue right now, choose which they want in the secret display room. Sipping Cognac and looking at fine art is a thing....made even more precious if its illegal booty.
  • 6 0
 @FoesKnows: Totally! Start with the Kyrgyzstani dictator guy flush with all that UCI cheese:

cyclingtips.com/2020/06/the-uci-just-gave-its-highest-award-to-a-dictator
  • 6 0
 Private collectors. Recently Walter Gretzky (Wayne Gretzky's dad) had $600,000 USD of Wayne's memorabilia stolen from his house. No less from two family friends (and one was a police officer). All the items were sold to private collectors, but has since been recovered. There are private collectors out there willing to pay...
  • 2 0
 Not all stolen items are to be sold... some are so rare, that are really priceless for anyone that wants in their private collection Saying this, I'm not approving any stolen item, and hope all things are recovered for the delight of everyone that visits the museum Cheers
  • 1 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: Are you saying the cops just have to go to Alcatraz to find the bikes?
  • 13 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: you got it all wrong-wasn't a break in, it was a breakout. those bikes just want to ridden man.
  • 4 0
 @Korbi777: It seems like a stretch that there'd be a black market for collectible bikes, and outside of Overend's bike the components aren't old/rare enough to be worth much parted out and stripped of their historical significance. They probably just got the easiest items to take in the time they had and didn't put much thought into what they were grabbing. Losing a gold medal and national championship winning bike that the thieves likely can't even sell without parting out makes it extra crappy.
  • 2 0
 I see so many used high-end mountain bikes and road bikes that are selling out of Salinas (where the criminals dumped one car) on Craigslist.
  • 7 0
 @neons97: You’ve given me a great idea for a film. Two rivals in the Evil League of Rich Bike Collectors will stop at nothing until they have — whose? — oh yes, Jaroslav Kulhavy’s Specialized Epic in their prized collections.

There’s a big difference between Wayne Gretzky, world famous legend in a popular, major sport, and future Jeopardy clue in The Olympic gold medalist category Jaroslav Kulhavy.

I could be wrong, but I’m just not seeing the market.
  • 2 0
 @huppe: @flipoffthemonkeys:

Yes to both of you. Let’s go to Alcatraz and send it on those old bikes!
  • 1 1
 @DC1988: only way seb could get a trophy after leaving lol
  • 1 1
 @DC1988:
  • 1 0
 @onemind123: Palmer! I knew it!
  • 1 0
 @richardlockey: They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with.
  • 3 2
 @curendero: The only reason Lance would steal these bikes is so he can sell the bikes and buy EPO or bags for blood transfusions
  • 2 0
 @TheR: dream crusher. We want to think of cycling's heirlooms as priceless antiquities. Next, you're gonna tell me that Mommy didn't kiss Santa Clause? That it was really was my drunk uncle Cornelius? Pfffttt!!!!
  • 1 0
 @sargey2003: I was thinking the same thing. Reward or ransom money.
  • 1 0
 @sargey2003: if they turn themselves in do they still get the reward, they can use it toward lawyer fees
  • 2 0
 Could see someone being willing to pay $$ for that Sagan bike. Probably not the rest. Agree it was likelier than not just random asshats, though.
  • 3 0
 Inside job for insurance money??
  • 3 0
 @cfox109: Nah, that kind of shady stunt is usually reserved for businesses in serious financial trouble.
Do really think the Big S is in trouble after this years sales numbers?
The risk in this case is way too high (insurance fraud conviction) vs. the reward ($160K).
  • 2 0
 @Stoaks: amazing story! I had no idea.
Did you hear that he changed the word for snake to his dog's name, gurp gorp? Along with a hundred other words.

#archer
  • 3 1
 This has to be a response from a group of dedicated pinkers looking to get back at specialized. After putting out solid, but very meh, plain vanilla bikes for years they suddenly had to go all 2020 crazy on us and put out like 5 bikes that are actually progressive in their design and totally desirable. Only way to get back at them was to take their most prized possessions. Hopefully Big S got the point and will be back to producing uninspired Horst link bikes soon.
  • 7 0
 @curendero: I don't think Lance has the balls to do something that risky.
  • 1 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: I think you're onto something. I heard he's broke, too. The pieces definitely fit.
  • 1 0
 @LexLewy: they’ll be in some billionaires basement Aladdin’s cave along with the real Mona Lisa , Red Rum and of course Lord Lucan !
  • 1 0
 That sting was commissioned by a private, wealthy collector. I bet it's the same guy/guys behind the Hans Rey one.
  • 1 0
 @DC1988: The guys who knocked over Red Bull F1 were real geniuses, they got caught after they tried to rob an instore ATM by blowing it up.
  • 3 1
 @ReformedRoadie: Got any worn out jokes about big bad Canadian Knolly suing good old American Intense? (www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2020/12/14/knolly-bikes-sues-intense-cycles-alleging-patent-infringement)
  • 3 0
 @ReeferSouthrland: Chuck Norris and Dog The Bounty Hunter!!
  • 2 0
 @TheR: ^This
  • 2 0
 Correct. Stupid assholes.
  • 1 0
 @excavator666: noice
  • 1 0
 @theging: disgruntled dealers just trying to stay in business!
  • 1 0
 Sometimes these things are stolen on order, with the painting later found in some mob boss's mansion. Does anyone know a mob boss that's an avid cycling fan with a trail in his/her own backyard?
  • 2 0
 @Mac1987: If you find him, let me know, because I’d like him to make a cameo in my film.
  • 1 0
 @hypa: Right. Truth really is stranger than fiction!
  • 2 0
 @Hardtailhooligan: well, Nick Cage would likely star in a movie about the heist for about $25k salary.
  • 1 0
 What's so great about Specialized stuff? It's not like Colnago etc....
  • 1 0
 Not a thief here , but that’s what spray paint is for.....
  • 3 0
 I wholheartedly agree with you.

That said, the people that steal these things are the same kind of people who steal art pieces. It never gets sold publicly for obvious reasons, it gets sold in that specific community and circle of people who buy coveted things on the black market...and is only worth whatever wealthy collector is willing to pay for it to be stored in their house as a conversation piece. Those were pretty specific bikes, not just random ones near the door...and the fact that there were two vehicles means they were probably targeted and already sold to the person(s) that wanted them.

This happens with art, vehicles, animal hydes, etc....
  • 1 0
 @Xc2dh1: That's exactly what I am saying. you would have to remove all of their museum piece historical value to make them worth the same (or less than even) any other stolen bike. It's a really high profile, high risk theft with pretty low reward. Driving that van around and picking up any random 16 high end bikes with a pair of bolt croppers would be quicker and have a higher reward.

That said if @rupintart is right and there is a shady collector stroking a cat somewhere waiting for his coveted Sagan race bike to take pride of place in the stolen goods wing of his mansion then I would be both surprised and sort of excited. We just need a bike hero to counteract the bike villain.
  • 1 0
 I think some people under estimate just HOW rich some people are. There are so many people would would drop $100k on a bike like this just to sit on the wall in a spare home that only visit once every three years. $100k is pocket change. People literally pay millions for dinosaur bones just to lock them away:

www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/10/stan-tyrannosaurus-rex-sold-at-auction-paleontologists-are-furious
  • 2 0
 @Mac1987: We NEED the McManus brothers!!!
  • 2 0
 These were not stolen as a way to convert to cash. I needed these to complete my man cave. I win because my man cave is cool as f&@k now.
  • 113 0
 If the bastards are found, Specialized will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to pursue legal actions against someone without upsetting the internet.
  • 1 0
 very well done haaaaa
  • 98 0
 Just two days ago @santacruzbicycles were bragging about having a van. Just sayin'.
  • 3 2
 @jollyXroger Your comment had me dying lol
  • 5 0
 After reading this I immediately imagined Greg Minnaar and Steve Pete in ski masks stealing the bikes with Luca Shaw in the van very nervously uttering he didn’t think this “is such a good idea guys!” Lol
  • 2 0
 @Shartriloquist: You meant to say Loris only borrowed these bikes for a test ride?
  • 100 2
 Luckily no striders were taken...
  • 15 5
 the carbon ones you mean?
  • 9 0
 Probably would have made more money selling them.
  • 8 8
 Unlucky for Specialized because that would have been the only way for them to unload some of their stock
  • 5 1
 @petrospit: Really? Because they are sold out of just about everything.
  • 5 0
 @IamSeaDevil: I think he meant specifically the carbon striders.

I could be wrong though
  • 3 1
 @Hardtailhooligan: Obviously i meant the striders. Who is going to pay so much money for a push bike ?
  • 1 0
 Can we clear this up once and for all: Kleenex is to Strider as tissue is to every other balance bike without pedals...
  • 3 0
 @mattj16: then what’s a bandaid
  • 1 0
 @petrospit: just wait they’ll be sold out
  • 52 2
 Looks like someone is starting their own personal specialized museum. If I were working the case, I’d start my investigation by checking the homes of all the dentists within 150 miles of both the headquarters, and where the car was found.
  • 4 2
 Maybe check and see if there's a private museum in Texas?
  • 33 1
 But hold on! How did this happen in the first place? Governor Gav has the state on lockdown, and last I checked, thievery is a non-essential business. Are you telling me these burglars aren’t following Gav’s rules?
  • 4 8
flag thustlewhumber FL (Dec 17, 2020 at 9:03) (Below Threshold)
 Thievery is also illegal. Why would they break the law?
  • 4 2
 @gnarlysipes: as someone from CA, I can tell you that literally no one is following his rules lol.
  • 1 1
 @thustlewhumber: Exactly.
  • 2 0
 @RayDolor: lol
  • 36 4
 In before the comments about how bad California is getting....
  • 39 13
 Looks like California's crime rate has been generally declining since the 80s.. One theft is not a crime wave.

www.ppic.org/publication/crime-trends-in-california
  • 7 20
flag Chuckolicious (Dec 17, 2020 at 4:50) (Below Threshold)
 @seb-stott: Methinks "Wobbly" is one of those special campers we have here in the US.
  • 68 3
 @seb-stott: Surely if there was a crime wave, the robbers would have burgled the California Surf Museum??
  • 44 48
flag ATV25 (Dec 17, 2020 at 5:11) (Below Threshold)
 @seb-stott: Try living here and then tell me what you think ! Crime is OUT OF CONTROL, they just don't lock criminals up anymore, remember it's not their fault.
  • 20 5
 @ATV25: yeah, no thanks to Newsolini
  • 18 2
 @ATV25: 2.3 million in prison in the USA, apparently.
  • 4 0
 @cookiemonster27: booooooooo
  • 12 2
 @seb-stott: Like how you had to use 'generally'
Left out this key nugget- "Violent crime increased in a majority of counties … "
  • 41 18
 @seb-stott: pretty easy to have lower crime rates when you just start decriminalizing everything from public defecation to resisting arrest. Seriously California is being destroyed by it's elected officials, they're really just narcissistic quasi celebrities partying on tax payer dollars and destroying the economy.
  • 10 2
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: And to complete the fragment you're most focused on: "Most of these large increases occurred in small counties, which are susceptible to substantial swings in crime rates due to small populations and rare instances of violent crime."

I mean, one of the counties is called YOLO. Seems only natural :-)
  • 19 1
 @Lankycrank: Cali just reported their lowest level of growth in a century. Something’s wrong when people don’t want to live in one the most beautiful states in the union.
  • 27 21
 @Lankycrank: again, pretty easy for LA to have a "lower crime rate" when they just stop giving a shit about the majority of crimes. LA and SF are the perfect examples of how elite government officials can literally turn the city into a divisive "haves vs have nots" scenario where the only places the law is enforced to some degree is rich areas and neighborhoods of politicians. It's disgusting. Liberals are destroying California.
  • 6 1
 @seb-stott: the problem with the website is that it graphs per 100,000 residents. California has 39.51 million residents. On the website it says “2017 property crime rate of 2,491 per 100,000”. So that means property crime occurred almost 1 million times alone.
  • 28 39
flag TotalAmateur (Dec 17, 2020 at 7:40) (Below Threshold)
 @seb-stott: let's not forget the fact that Gavin Newsome essentially let all of California burn because he didn't do a single thing about all the dead vegetation festering in the state parks for years, then when it finally caught fire he used it as a chance to push global warming so he'd seem in with the cool science crowd that wants to blame every problem on global warming. liberals are straight cancer.
  • 41 9
 @TotalAmateur: Name checks out.
  • 8 0
 @TwoNGlenn: maybe people just realized they didn't want to spend their days in bumper to bumper traffic in the gd desert that's always burning.
  • 18 8
 @TotalAmateur: LOL what?

Gavin has no say in the management of the National Forests. And, with historic drought and heat, the conditions were catastrophic. But, yes, without allowing forest fires to burn naturally, it sets up mega-events. And due to climate change, it is getting worse...
  • 14 3
 @seb-stott: Echoing what others have said; it only appears as a major decrease in property crime due to lowered requirements for citing and/or arresting criminals. Also, you can steal $999 usd worth of goods per incident (meaning five homes equals $4999) and the cop can't even put handcuffs on you. So many people, myself included, get something stolen and we just say, "Why bother reporting it? There's nothing the police can do about it anyways."

Its really sad. People work so dang hard for cool things, like awesome mountain bikes, and when they're stolen the California government and its residents who voted them into office has made it so the police can't do anything about it.
  • 16 1
 @seb-stott: Cause the real theft happens legally. Developers lobby cities to change master plans so they can build McMansions with no nearby recreation opportunities. Then mountain bikers, hikers, environmentalists fight over the scraps while the developers swan dive into piles of money.

Oh yea and water. We are being bludgeoned legally there too and meanwhile, we'll recall Newsome so we can get some more business-friendly puppet in.

Ca Sux. Move to Texas. Take some friends.
  • 19 26
flag TotalAmateur (Dec 17, 2020 at 8:00) (Below Threshold)
 @audeo03: Seriously? So his threat to hold funding to police departments if they don't enforce curfew couldn't have been used against the fire departments for not clearing brush year round? What about making it considerably harder for private land owners to maintain their own property. If the governor of a state has no control over the fire abatement, who does?? This was an issue that every local paper called out for years, and all of those warnings fell on deaf ears. He has plenty of leverage to ensure that action is taken he's just too busy ensuring he gets taken care of by all the other corrupt politicians. And you citing the rising heat and drought only furthers my point that HE DID NOTHING! We had that data for YEARS, and all that happened was the vegetation got worse, and they literally made it harder for property owners to clear their own land. Sorry but your argument sucks.
Educate yourself.
  • 15 23
flag TotalAmateur (Dec 17, 2020 at 8:01) (Below Threshold)
 @Cyberhatter: move to texas but ffs don't vote Blue!!!
  • 7 1
 @TwoNGlenn: hmm I imagine most states and countries will be reporting a low level of growth for 2020..
  • 8 2
 @audeo03: not to mention human encroachment into forests, pushing further and further back into delicate woodlands to build their giant homes in the bucolic wilderness, etc. etc.

The old "rake the forest" line is surprising to see here. Like, does any actual rider believe that this is healthy for the forest or desirable? Maybe if you've never ridden outside of a berm park?
  • 11 10
 @nevaska: there is an exodus out of California. New York and California will likely be the highest outbound states of 2020.
  • 7 2
 @Cyberhatter: This is it. We have an messed up way to talk about crime. petty theft IS 100,000 in this country. Specialized is insured. Sucks for the historical relevancy. Hope they recover them. But the real theft in California should be calculated in the tens of millions. Its the money that is taken from the public and given as incentives to business development. corporate welfare is the real crime.
  • 14 5
 @TotalAmateur:

Not arguing with your anti-politician rant. But the anti-science crusade has gotten out of hand. That and bashing the other side...
  • 2 0
 @TotalAmateur: You had a curfew before spring/summer 2020?
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: Methinks?

Yay, forsooth and verily.
  • 5 3
 @dwbaillar: Fair point. Maybe that was the final straw. They could deal with the failed state, increasing violent crime, soaring tax rates, unconstitutional lockdowns, etc. But then they realized on top of all that was a burning countryside and never-ending traffic. I’d leave, too.
  • 15 4
 @TotalAmateur: Stop. Just stop. Didn’t you see @audeo03 threw out the magic words, “climate change”? That means the argument is over. You don’t have a right to keep discussing things openly and honestly after the climate change card is thrown down.
  • 16 6
 @audeo03: where exactly am I being anti-science? I have not once denounced the threat of global warming, just pointed out that blaming wildfires on global warming is idiotic. sorry you had trouble understanding that.
  • 12 6
 @atwyrrk: are you actually trying to argue that dead tree and brush abatement is a fruitless endeavor in the face of wildfire prevention? Please tell me you aren't that dense.
  • 17 5
 @audeo03: lets do this, you show some evidence that climate change contributed to the wildfire MORE than the lack of abatement, and I'll do the opposite. the amount of people on here that just downvote without providing any real counter argument is pathetic, you all realize that blaming global warming without assessing the real threats just opens us up for the same issue to occur again? easy to say "climate change" and pat your ass for being progressive, but lives are literally lost and ruined because of this ineffectual thought process. wake, the f*ck, up.

www.motherjones.com/environment/2020/09/california-creek-fire-dead-trees-2018-study-bioscience

www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-09-13/150-million-dead-trees-wildfires-sierra-nevada
  • 23 5
 Californians - Rant about how bad it is and move to a different state. Also Californians - Continue to vote for the things that ruined California.
  • 3 1
 @TotalAmateur: I would say they're a crooked cancer myself.
  • 3 0
 Chill everyone, "Corporal Mindy Zen" is on the case.
  • 4 0
 @ATV25: You're in the methtropolis of Redding? What do you expect?
  • 10 4
 @TotalAmateur: lol you think rich people crimes are enforced? IRS, SEC, EPA, CPSP, OSHA enforcement divisions that police the rich have been completely defunded. The rich can steal as much as they want with impunity. You're more likely to get caught stealing that bike than you are stealing $1million from taxes or payroll or poisoning a whole city with pollution.
  • 11 11
 @TotalAmateur: Why do you think there are a bunch of dead trees? It's because of a combination of drought and lack of winter temperatures cold enough to kill off parasites caused by climate change. Many of these burned areas will never regrow forest, because the climate has become too warm and dry to sustain the species that existed pre-fire.
  • 4 1
 @dthomp325: idk why you think i'm saying that rich people don't need to be held accountable? seriously what are you arguing here.
  • 8 1
 Crime is rising in California. I live in Silicon Valley. My car has been broken into four times in last couple of years. Two times the criminals were just showing off because they didn't steal anything, but turned on the hazard. It was totally obvious that nothing was clearly in the car, but they still broke in. All break-ins were in good neighborhoods.
  • 2 0
 @thustlewhumber: Whoa whoa whoa. It's just those in the rural areas are so heavily outnumbered by LA and bay area numbers. I want to leave but can't for several reasons beyond my control.

It blows my mind what others in this state vote for and think, "Yeah! That's a good idea!"

Like the daylight savings bit.... Still bitter about that one even though nothing has been acted on it. I actually like the fact the sun sets at 9:15 in the summer thanks to daylight savings. Downvote away, but my job is in ag and I really like that I don't have to start a 4am in July.
  • 8 5
 @dthomp325: that doesn't mean that there was no way of preventing this!!! holy shit, this isn't rocket science, if there are tons of dead trees and hundreds of miles of dead vegetation, and the state government does ZERO abatement or maintenance, what other outcome is there besides a purging and overwhelming wildfire? And sure the drought might make the fire worse ONCE IT STARTS, or make more dead trees BEFORE IT STARTS, but simply slapping a climate change sticker on that problem and acting like you've solved the issue is just inviting it to happen again. Seriously, find some documentation that provides any evidence that these fires were the result of climate change, and not mismanaged land. I've already provided two stating the reason was unmaintained forests, your move.
  • 8 2
 @audeo03: just be honest, you have zero evidence to support your claim and all of your attempts to alleviate responsibility for those responsible are futile and misguided. I've been wrong too, just admit it. You have aren't arguing because you can't. I've already provided scientific evidence that supports my claim, your turn. Mr science.
  • 6 1
 @sargey2003: what? how did you get that from my response? Gavin is threatening to withhold funding from sheriffs that refuse to enforce his draconian lockdowns. So my question is why couldn't he have threatened to withhold funding from firefighters unless they enforced and managed weed abatement? Statistically there is more time without fires than with fires so it's not like they don't have the time, not to mention all they'd have to do is lift the barriers for clearing personal property, then hand out fines for anyone who isn't cleared within a certain timeline. That'd take care of the private lands, then send fire crews and tree crews to go in with the forestry service and take care of the tinder in the national parks. So difficult huh.
  • 7 5
 @TotalAmateur: I didn't say there weren't ways to abate it, dead trees should be cleared, but unfortunately that's easier said than done because there are millions of acres of dead trees all over the Western US due to climate change and cleaning them up is very expensive.

Here's one study I'll highlight specifically because it claims 50% of all area burned in Western US is related to climate change:

www.pnas.org/content/113/42/11770

Here's a news story gives an overview of the current research:

www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-is-central-to-californias-wildfires

Here's the USFS page about climate change and pine bark beetles:

www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/bark-beetles-and-climate-change-united-states

Here's a link where you can see most of the scientific studies related to climate change and wildfires if you want to dig deeper:

sciencebrief.org/topics/climate-change-science/wildfires/explorer
  • 8 5
 @TotalAmateur: It really should just be common sense. There is no getting around the fact that if it gets warmer every year there are more fires and that wood and trees and organic matter are going to dry out and burn much easier. Then add to this the increase high winds and increased storms that come from the climate instability of global warming. It is going to happen over and over again, except it will get progressively worse over time. Much worse. This is not a forest management issue, it's a climate change issue.
www.google.com/amp/s/api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/science/2020/09/climate-change-increases-risk-fires-western-us
  • 8 0
 @seb-stott: That data is not accurate. Go to the California government website and shows totally different data. Also, many property crime people do not file a police report and just contact insurance to handle, so property numbers likely not showing the full story.

openjustice.doj.ca.gov/exploration/crime-statistics/crimes-clearances

Also, I live in Silicon Valley. Property crime in all the SF Bay Area cities has risen exponentially since they passed Prop 47 in 2014. Tons of local newspapers report extremely high percentage increases of property and violent crime. The property crime rise is mainly cars and businesses. Personally, my car has been broken into four times in last couple of years in good neighborhoods. I know a business that has been broken into around 10 times in last 5 years or so.

Once the Prop 47 lowered the penalties from felony to misdemeanor of property crime below $950, property crime went up exponentially. It is basically a speeding ticket for theft now. It was just so California could save hundreds of millions on prison sentences, but in turn rose the theft and fraud to extremely high levels across the state.
  • 7 3
 @dthomp325: alright so once again, it could make it wildfires worse, but it's not the overarching cause. I have to see in any of these articles where it says "Despite the vast efforts to keep brush growth managed and dead trees from piling up, the effects of global warming simply were too great which lead to this fire"
Which is what I'm getting at. Dryer conditions make for worse fires but prevention is one of the only things we can do to mitigate it, and we didn't do dick. So until we have global warming figured out, our best bet is to manage the growth and decay, which we didn't, which was called out by numerous publications and scientists, which is ignored wholly by the current admin and media.
  • 7 0
 @audeo03: That is incorrect. California has every say in what happens on National forests with the Good Neighbor Authority Act passed in 2014. It is a collaboration for California to work with US Forest Service to manage lands in California. Basically, California is to recognize problems in their own state and contact US Forest Service to work with them solving the problems. California has all the power to make change happen in the National Forests if they want to, however, California doesn't want to spend the money/time addressing those problems.

www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD491362
  • 5 2
 @DoubleCrownAddict: dude, nobody is arguing that climate change needs to be addressed, or that they increase risk, but if our only course of prevention is mitigating the brush growth and number of dead trees, and we don't do it, how the f*ck can you rationally say that the fires are a RESULT of climate change? Having something be affected by something and caused by something are not the same thing at all. The small amount of available action was completely ignored by the current government, and blaming the entirety on global warming is just a lazy excuse so everyone can keep going on like they were before with no change in their policy.
  • 1 0
 @thustlewhumber: You da ho
  • 6 0
 @TotalAmateur: I made an assumption based on your vague-ness. If i was wrong, cool.

thats the thing about being intelligent. you are free to change your stance on things as new evidence emerges.
  • 4 0
 @atwyrrk: I was just confused honestly, it sounded like you were blaming the expanding housing market and saying that "raking" the forest doesn't work. If you've ever been to big bear in the summer, you'll notice that the fire crews are out doing controlled burns all the time. Because they understand one fire is all it takes for everything to be destroyed up there. bottom line, abatement works in efforts to prevent wildfires.
  • 14 2
 @TotalAmateur: I think you have to really understand the historical here. The FS at first had a no-burn policy for forests. This turned out to be wrong. We ended up with massive fire loads in many forests. Climate change, whether by drought or by warmer conditions and pine beetles flourishing, then became the gasoline poured on political mistakes. Climate change does not cause the million acre fires we are seeing; it exacerbates them. Climate change is also not responsible for the cost of the fires; humans did that by overloading California forests with housing and property. We will have worse fires because of Climate change + forest management practices all through the 20th century. Most of the FS budget already goes to fighting fires. Without serious cash, they can't undertake the "clean up" practices which you want to see. So additional, future political failures will continue to exacerbate past, historical ones.

that sum up your points? If so, we agree. If not, I can't help ya.
  • 4 0
 @TotalAmateur: same argumentation about cleaning the brush during the juge australian wildfires.
  • 7 4
 @TotalAmateur: Exactly, there are no facts or evidence that climate change has contributed more to the wildfires in California, Oregon, or Washington. And there are no facts or evidence that if California or the US decreases its CO2 emissions dramatically that the wildfires will stop. However, it has proven that forest management can help decrease wildfires and wildfires from spreading.
  • 4 1
 @atwyrrk: oh man we're totally on the same page, sorry for the misunderstanding! Great job summarizing, but my only argument is that the tax revenue California receives and subsequently squanders should be more than enough to fund these projects, but that's a whole other rant on government spending.
  • 1 0
 @zoobab2: which seems equally applicable, other than the raw acreage difference between the Aussie bush and cali back yard.
  • 2 2
 @TotalAmateur: I sure hope so. Get out! The more leave the better.
  • 1 0
 @thustlewhumber: According to Einstein the very definition of Insanity.
  • 2 2
 @Cyberhatter: lol already planning on it. no income tax, open carry firearm laws, and a 45 min drive to tahoe here I come!
  • 7 0
 At the end of the day aren’t we all just a bunch of yuppies that like bikes a bit too much? Ya ever think people just miss the point. Sure we might not agree on how to get to the answer but I think generally speaking we all want basically the same answer here. To be able to go on through life doing the things we enjoy.

What’s the points in being dicks to each other. Go be productive.

This is coming from a guy who spent way to long reading this thread
  • 1 2
 @TotalAmateur: Next step CalExit. We are too nutty here to be a part of the rest of the sane US. Build a wall from Mexico to Or keep us loonies in here and everyone else out.
  • 2 3
 @Cyberhatter: I'm not letting the liberals force me out. Fighting. Born and raise in California.
  • 4 1
 @TotalAmateur: Just to help you out a little, exact same crap happen in Australia.
You can do some simple research, old timers have been complaining about not doing controlled burns to clear out all the tinder.
Environmentalist say no, largest fire every = climate change, not mismanagement.

Now they're looking back to the old school ways.
www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2020/01/13/australia-fires-aboriginal-land-management
  • 3 1
 @Cyberhatter: What ya gonna do for water? I know you didn't say it, but I always love the"We're the 5th largest economy in the world, we'll be fine without the rest of the country" crap.
How long does that last without water?
  • 3 0
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: Actually not all that accurate. We have the water to survive just fine, it just get privatized and sold to big ag. There is a great documentary on one of the bigger rips offs. Google the Kern Water Bank and you can probably find it. Acutally, Amazon used near the true story in season 3 of Goliath. That just pretended it was fiction. Get rid of some of the stupid crap we subsidize to grow here and there would be lots more water. But yes people leaving and the water needs with them would help.
  • 2 0
 A california man..........
  • 6 2
 @TotalAmateur: HAHA - you big dummy. That's all I have to say.
  • 2 1
 @h-beck83: LOL as a CA native, I approve of this. Florida Man - back TF up!
  • 3 2
 @audeo03: you are wrong on so many levels it boggles my mind
  • 3 5
 @TotalAmateur: he can't, he relies on the liberal teachings of old hippies who fried their brains LOL
  • 5 0
 @ATV25: The term Liberal is dead, my dude. We are Progtards now.
  • 4 1
 @dthomp325: so now who specifically do we blame for the creation of the Rocky Mountains, melting the glaciers, and the fact that Great Salt Lake at one point was an ocean? Surely you can find somebody to blame.
  • 4 1
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Well the dinosaurs of course. Green New Deal says farting cattle are a big problem, so just imagine what all those dinosaurs farting did to the climate- had to be why the Great Salt Lake dried up.
  • 2 2
 @TotalAmateur: Because you can't prevent it, it's inevitable in these extreme dry and extreme wind conditions that are unprecedented.

I think humans have always been conditioned to think they can control nature's calamities, but it's a similar kind of technological cockiness that has created this rapidly heating hot box.
  • 7 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: It makes a difference.
www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2020/08/24/stop-blaming-climate-change-for-californias-fires-many-forests-including-the-redwoods-need-them/?sh=73a6c21870b3
Bottom line is that climate change has become a religion not science anymore. I anyone that brings up anything that contradicts it is sent to the inquisition.
  • 3 6
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: Maybe next time don't source your information from a climate denier if you expect me to take your argument seriously.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.desmogblog.com/2020/08/06/michael-shellenberger-republican-star-witness-climate-hearings%3famp

climatenexus.org/climate-issues/misleading-arguments-abound-in-op-ed-promoting-michael-shellenberger-new-book
  • 2 4
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: I'm curious what Google search you did to source that bogus op ed and if it was the first one you came across that reaffirmed your establish opinion? Lol.
  • 1 0
 double post
  • 4 2
 @DoubleCrownAddict: you should try and debate the argument instead of the person maybe? just if you want to have an effectual rebuttal and not just refusing to argue because of the person making said argument. Blaming something we have less control over and ignoring something we have more control over is just ignorant, and should be criminally negligent. Bottom line, it's the governments responsibility to either keep us safe, or allow us to protect ourselves. Newsome and the other CA nitwits have made it so we can't address preventive measures on our own, and on top of it they do nothing on their part. While we should be changing our behavior and cleaning the environment, it doesn't change the fact that this issue was well known, and no action was taken. If people can blast Trump for the people that died from COVID, it should be pretty f*cking easy to blast Newsome for the fires. Same argument both cases, lack of action.
  • 3 3
 @TotalAmateur: at what point did it become the government's responsibility to keep us safe? I am more than certain that is not within the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
  • 2 3
 @TotalAmateur: stupid voice text. Plus now people are being chastised for not fully buying into the government's claims 100%. It was not long ago people were put to death if they claimed that the world was not flat.
  • 4 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: that's a pretty easy thing to agree we all assume on. People expect the government taxes to be put towards stabilizing and providing infrastructure and protection, via fire fighters, police, military, etc. I certainly feel we're better off policing ourselves, but lets not pretend that there is no inherent expectations that government is supposed to be handling these public safety concerns. If it isn't then they should be getting rid of the restrictions that limit us from handling it ourselves, but the halfway way in halfway out maneuvering they do now is only beneficial to politicians while it hurts us.
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: I have zero clue what your second response was regarding. cheers
  • 2 4
 @TotalAmateur: Like I said, it's impossible to take you seriously when you rely on a completely bogus op ed as proof for your argument. You have not posted anything factual to back your very weak argument.
  • 3 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: the fact that you can't even debate my point on a common sense basis says everything. cheers
  • 1 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: if anything, the increasing effects of global warming should mean that we are doing EXTRA management, so unless you have a valid reason why we should be doing less, you're agreeing with us lol.
  • 2 2
 @TotalAmateur: Common sense says you should back your arguments with facts, not fraudulent conspiracies that make you look stupid. Go sweep the billions of acres of forest.
  • 2 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: god if only we had some sort of national forest service or expansive network of fire departments that could help!!! You can't even come up with a weak rebuttal, doesn't take a scientific report to know if the climate is getting worse we need to step up our efforts. lol
  • 4 1
 @TotalAmateur: Wait, stop the clock. So both of you agree that AGW is a clear and present danger. Seems you also agree that it is exacerbating the fires. So is all you disagree upon is the need, or level at which is needed, forestry management?
  • 3 0
 @Chuckolicious: ya apparently! But I don't have a scientific study to back up my claims that this is common sense, so what are we to do??! guess I'll just be intellectually lazy but politically hip and blame that on global warming too so I can go back to living with only concern for myself. but hey, I told someone AGW is real, so I've done my duty. SAmArItaN
  • 2 2
 @TotalAmateur: Then I'd say you two are basically 95% the way there. IMHO, forestry management needs to be taken very seriously specifically because of how AGW is acting like a force multiplier for fires. But I also think the way it was politicized to denigrate climate science was pretty f*cked up. Raking the forest, yea, dopey shit rhetoric like that doesn't help at all. Unless you have skin on the side of fossil fuels and status quo. Anyway, let's all just hope our favorite west coast trails don't get destroyed for good.
  • 3 0
 @Chuckolicious: They won't. CA has more forest then most countries. Fire was a natural part of the ecosystem until 'forest management' (AKA Whitey's Fire Prevention) allowed the fuel load to build up so dramatically. Luckily, nature bats last and will heal this planet after our extinction. DV as needed.
  • 2 0
 @suspended-flesh: OK, I use the term in its more practical sense. Manage the forests in order to mitigate fire risk, now more than ever. Hell, the insurance industry is bailing on the state, and likely OR too, that's how bad its gotten.
  • 5 1
 @Chuckolicious: If AGW is real (I don't think it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt) then why haven't the global climate change activist powers been cracking down on the biggest offending countries (China, India, Middle East, etc.)? Basically those countries have given verbal promises that they will reach a goal in decades and been given passes. However, they are cracking down on harder on the US to implement policies to seriously affect the economy and US. Where the US has one of the cleanest environments (air, water, sewage/toxic management, garbage management) of any developed countries. The US and EU are the only areas that have decreased their CO2 emissions in last decade. China, India, and other biggest offenders have increased their CO2 emissions dramatically. Some countries have remained the same.

Also, the global climate change powers created these fake "carbon credits" that are basically to self-proclaim virtue signaling that they are not dumping as much CO2 emissions as oppose to some others. They created those "carbon credits" because they know it is impossible for any country, entity, company, etc. to be net-zero carbon emissions.
  • 6 4
 @tacklingdummy: Because common sense has NOTHING to do with their delusions or claims. These lunatics pretend that some unproven "science" is all of a sudden fact while still BARELY in a hypothesis mode...We know first hand the lefties, socialists, and Marxists (and Enviro-Nuts) can take the slightest claim and simply overreact beyond all rational comprehension.

Now, where is a car we can flip and Wendys we can burn to protest global warming...
  • 4 5
 @tacklingdummy: Oh man, take this nonsense somewhere else. Honestly. So many aspects of what you just spammed are factually incorrect, and I suspect you know that. Just know that the children of today who will suffer the consequences of your actions, will likely be looking to balance the social books. Think about that. Seriously think about that.
  • 3 3
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: Jesus man, what is wrong with you?
  • 2 2
 @Chuckolicious: Explain exactly how my statement is factually incorrect. I'm listening.
  • 2 4
 @tacklingdummy: Nope. Is it my responsibility to explain why the claim that 1+1=3 is wrong? Why the claim that the world is flat is wrong? Why the claim that Covid is a hoax is wrong? Nope. I know you fill the void in your soul by being an insufferable crank, but I'm not gonna indulge you. Just know that karma is a real bitch, and she collects a massive vig.
  • 2 1
 @Chuckolicious: Why are threatening me instead of debating the subject? Please debate the subject. You act like my opinions are going to destroy the world. Lol.
  • 3 2
 Climate change is the underlying factor.

sciencing.com/busting-the-presidents-biggest-myths-about-the-california-wildfires-13714336.html
  • 1 1
 @dthomp325:
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: if you're acting like this guy is wildly incorrect then proving your point should be easy no? rather than making some weird karmic prophesies.
  • 1 1
 @TotalAmateur: I'm not acting like anything. Each of his points are as factually incorrect as 1+1=3, simple as that. So he is either willfully ignorant, having some skin in the F.U.D. game, or is one of those incorrigibles with whom there is no rationalizing. My last bit was very on point, since whichever it is, he's not a good person and will likely reap what he sows. Karma, cosmic justice, whatever you want to call it. Shitty people tend to have shitty things happen to them that can be connected directly back to them being shitty people.
  • 2 1
 @Chuckolicious: Well given your somewhat religious belief in Karma and complete lack of evidence to support any rebuttals, and constant dismissal of opposing arguments due to "lack of evidence", i'd say you should get more familiar with the concept of irony than karma. cheers
  • 1 1
 @TotalAmateur: Why so delicate? I went from supporting your position on forestry management to eliciting bizarre nonsense from you? How'd that happen? What part of my concise explanation triggered you?
  • 2 1
 @Chuckolicious: do you honestly think just because you agreed with me that I'm ok with you just refusing to present a rational argument? cmon bro
  • 1 2
 @TotalAmateur: Oy vey. Look, if some insane person disputes that 1+1=2, do you really feel obligated to 'splain why that's wrong? I'm sure you already took the 2 seconds of Google to see that I'm accurate that every single point of his is old school anti-science astro turf nonsense. So why you pushing, bro? Again, so dang delicate, I just don't get it. Toughen up, 'lil chief. World is an ok place once you can get with science, and drop the tribalism. Truly it is. And hey, just curious, why have you appointed yourself his knight in shining armor?
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: mhmmm, expected and yet still disappointing. You seem awfully confident that you're opinion is common sense but you struggle with explaining so much you literally have taken every chance to NOT explain/support it. just stop
  • 1 1
 @TotalAmateur: Heh... sock puppet alert! Couldn’t hook me with the tacklingdummy account, but ya did with this one. Well, until you slipped up, anyway. Okeedokee, chum, you keep on with your bad self. Cant even imagine what compels you to be this way. Block on!
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: just wow
  • 31 0
 Luckily they didn't steal the horst link suspension patent ????
  • 5 0
 Oh wait!
  • 7 0
 Who sued first Speci or Knolly?
  • 26 0
 *heads to craigslist and searches Peter Sagan*
  • 60 0
 *heads to craigslist and searches "white 10 speed for sale"*
  • 2 0
 @rrolly: pretty much
  • 26 1
 Maybe Ritchey and Fisher teamed up to get justice
  • 4 1
 Is this that ‘karma’ thing I always hear about?
  • 2 1
 Don't forget Charlie Kelly and Joe Breeze.
  • 29 5
 They’ll just sue someone to get the money back.
  • 11 10
 In before you get downvoted by the sworks dentist's.
  • 2 0
 @mrbadwrench: ????
  • 24 0
 Inside Job
  • 10 0
 Ding ding.
  • 8 0
 @mm732: they certainly have enough disgruntled ex employees with inside knowledge.
  • 24 3
 Thievery sucks, but only a $25,000 reward?! That'll barely cover buying 2 of their S Works bikes!
  • 5 0
 There is a missing dog at my local trails with a 2000 reward. Spesh needs to step it up.
  • 15 1
 Dear box van guys, I have three bikes in my garage from the mid 90's that were ridden to 23th place in the sport class of the local Wednesday night races.
Dear insurance company, they were worth $457,000,000.
Reward: 2 bent Mavic 217 rims (Dart and Smoke not included).
  • 3 0
 Garage is full of nineties bikes, worth 20eur each. Profit!
  • 17 2
 Cop on the scene: "well the good news is your damages are minimal - they mostly took road bikes."

Seriously, if bikes must be stolen, no better than these dust collectors never to be ridden again.
  • 15 2
 So the worst thing one can do is steal bikes like these. The cycling community is very particular about their bikes and can pick apart every detail of a bike. We the community can find these bikes.

My suggestion is for specialized to provide pictures and the details of the bikes to sites like PB and a phone number at Specialized to call if they are seen. The investigators (cycling community) can pick apart ads on craigslist and ebay to find these bikes ("Wait, Specialized would have never released production bikes with that bar tape, those skewers, and those bottom bracket bolts...this must be stolen."). We can see right through the "Bought it for my wife for $12,000 and she doesn't ride it so my loss is your gain at $700."

Maybe offer a free shirt. It is unbelievable what a cyclist would do for a free shirt.
  • 6 0
 Still waiting for the "Community" to find Jeff Lanosky's stolen bikes!
  • 1 0
 @Eric27: Didn't know he had bikes stolen.
  • 1 0
 Trouble is these are professionals. Everything that is distinct won't be sold. They'll be stripped and parted out online.
  • 1 0
 @j-t-g: Which, other than their own self satisfaction makes it all the more ridiculous that they stole bikes which arguably they will get less money for parting out than they would stealing regular bikes There are fewer components on a one-off bicycle build which can be sold without raising flags.
  • 14 0
 Never understood why in the US front license plates aren't obligatory.
  • 20 0
 State by state, but they are in CA.
  • 21 1
 Front license plates are required by law, in California. If only a diligent cop pulled them over to write a fix-it-ticket, maybe their cop senses would’ve discovered the stolen bikes. But no! Instead they’re too busy writing tickets in parking garages.
  • 25 4
 Because people would call it "tyranny". We can't even wear masks, you think we can affix a front license plate without feeling threatened??
  • 5 0
 Maybe they are, and thieves... might not obey that law either?
  • 6 0
 Criminals arent exactly law abiding citizens.
  • 11 0
 What a strange theft. Tweakers aren't known for their decision making skills though so I suppose this isn't all that surprising.
  • 9 0
 Based on the police response when my bike was stolen, and I found it on craigslist, and called them for help with address phone number of the vermin selling stolen property and a unfortunate buyer full cooperation to prosecute, these guys will totally get away with this.
  • 12 0
 Scrambled Egger? No one? Really?
  • 14 1
 cdn-cyclingtips.pressidium.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screen-Shot-2020-12-17-at-1.12.11-pm.jpg
  • 7 0
 Thats the one that’ll get them caught because its one that’ll stand out just in advertisement alone.

“Specialized Full-Suspension Road Bike” will set off alarm bells.
  • 3 3
 @jamessmurthwaite: Oh god. I really wish I hadn't clicked on that link. That was traumatizing.
  • 1 5
flag FranklinHaith (Dec 17, 2020 at 6:43) (Below Threshold)
 Niner did it first and better.
  • 3 0
 It's named after employee Robert Egger who does a number of wild designs for Specialized. I think he made this over 10 years ago. @FranklinHaith I remember seeing it when I toured the facility a few years ago
  • 3 0
 @jamessmurthwaite: Is it me or are those wheels treading dangerously close to the BMW M logo?
  • 1 0
 I would have named it the omelete
  • 1 0
 @PHeller: Except these are professionals. Everything that is distinct won't be sold. Parts will be stripped and posted online.
  • 13 2
 That's a bunch of highly specialised bicycles....
  • 11 1
 This was a very Specialized hit, with Epic amounts of planning before so that they could Levo without getting caught.
  • 10 1
 Cameras everywhere and the only image we have is a truck with the license plate blocked out, wtf. Guess the big S doesn't want to pay out the $25,000.
  • 6 0
 Did they have an alarm system in place and was it active? Curious to know if it was triggered or not. I would imagine a place like that has some sort of security system other than a camera.
  • 75 3
 It was set to be activated by a Specialized Brain. Unfortunately.
  • 2 2
 @tkrug: I have some time on the previous gen epic and I think the brain is decent, but that's just funny.
  • 2 0
 @tkrug: well done. was starting to fear I wouldn't find a single truly clever comment to this article, which would have been a real shame.
  • 1 0
 Home security cameras are everywhere now. They didn't want to spend $500 on a motion sensor camera which would give someone a notification so they would be able to call the cops?
  • 5 0
 I live in the SF Bay Area. 30 mins from Specialized Headquarters. Crime is rising a lot. My car has been broken into four times in last couple of years. Two times the criminals broke into my car didn't steal anything (nothing was in the car) and just turned on the hazard lights. They were just showing off. It has probably happened several more times unbeknownst to me.
  • 4 0
 Scene from Space Force (Netflix): Chinese rover passes the American, both going to sabotage... Cut too: “unnamed companies employees in a white van” passing the Specialized van with electronic surveillance outside their office.
  • 9 5
 Bummer they didn’t get the napalm Palmer dh rig. The “S” can rot. Having seeing their operation from the inside out it’s a tech company not a cycling company they just happen to make bikes. Ride an S and you a sucker to the fullest. Worst company in the game.
  • 3 0
 Interesting comment. Care to elaborate?
  • 3 0
 @cains08: I’ve talked to guys that work and have worked there too, general consensus is the engineering division is browbeat and slapped around unnecessarily by marketing. Innovation and sound engineering are compromised and while these are often times at odds with a sound bottom line,I’ve heard it’s far worse there than elsewhere in the industry. Is what it is
  • 2 4
 @Shartriloquist: Lucky for them...they have good skills, no? So, that being the case...TONS of jobs out there...they should simply move on for greener pastures or quit bitching. Not only are they not indentured servants (or are they here on an H1B?)...but, at no point did the workplace become a democracy.
  • 4 1
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: I think you're projecting your feelings and misreading the tone. Those I've spoken with weren't complaining, simply discussing their take on the the dynamics within the company. Some still enjoy working there. Take a breath and tick down the unnecessary aggro down a few notches lol
  • 2 3
 @Shartriloquist: Now, let's see - people here love to tear on S for doing what every other company does (or should). The first complaint is that they rightly defend their patents and trademarks...that simply is smart business. If you do not protect your intellectual knowledge and rights you rapidly lose them (and their value).

From there, an analogy to a sweatshop? I would guess that many new grads (the laziest wastes on earth) would maybe think that as an RD person for a bike they would get to test ride new crap all day every day (stoned for that matter). That simply is not how the workplace functions, not a functional profitable one.

As I have said in the past, Specialized has done more to build cycling globally than any other company (followed closely by Trek and Giant). Folks may like it or not, but, that is reality.
  • 2 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: what does any of that have to do with either of my statements?
  • 2 5
 @Shartriloquist: "’ve talked to guys that work and have worked there too, general consensus is the engineering division is browbeat and slapped around unnecessarily by marketing. Innovation and sound engineering are compromised and while these are often times at odds with a sound bottom line,I’ve heard it’s far worse there than elsewhere in the industry. Is what it is"

If they complain, I would fire them (with cause). If they are complaining on Social Media, the same thing, fire them (with cause). If it is so bad...LEAVE. No one OWES them a job.
  • 4 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: you're not wrong, but Lance did alot for cycling too.
  • 2 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: I’m pretty sure you didn’t read my response, where I explained that some enjoyed it there, but were simply explaining the dynamics. Nowhere did I mention nor did anyone complain on social media. These were ride conversations amongst engineers. Reading comprehension cannot be underrated if your opinions are strong and you are vocal about them. You have jumped to a number of conclusions and made glaring assumptions for reasons I cannot assume, but suspect may be rooted in other experiences you have had. Relax, breathe, read what is written, and try not to let angst and other negative experiences/conversations leak into those in which they are not relevant. Friendly advice Smile . Ride on and read carefully! Smile
  • 4 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: who hurt you bro
  • 6 0
 Contact the police, get a crime reference number and never hear any more. At least that's what happened when I had my bike stolen.
  • 3 2
 you forgot to write "hate speech" online. THAT might get a knock on the door. /s
  • 6 1
 If specialized didn't do such a good job at screwing over smaller dealers trying to sell their product for that last 25 years i MIGHT feel bad.
  • 3 0
 If I was Mike Sinyard I would get the Navy SEALS of tech guys in there before anyone touches a computer and sweep the enitire physical location for unwelcome surveillance and go over the entire network with the digital equivalent of a fine-toothed comb. CHECK THE COMPUTERS. What better way to infiltrate a large company's tech infrastructure than to physically access their computers? What better way to distract the victim than to take a bunch of stuff that is meaningful to only them?
  • 5 0
 I doubt most Econoline cube vans are running aftermarket led headlights like this one seems to be sporting. I hope they catch the dirt bags.
  • 1 0
 @excavator666: you be surprised, id guess 1/3 of the econolines in my area have some type of LED headlights. Most of my neighbors are some type of laborer that drives a nondiscript white van. Typically with a ladder rack. If you wanted to do a job like this where I live, Chevy or Ford contractor van would be the best option.
  • 3 0
 After all these high end stolen bikes that happened(2019 - current)no bike manufacturer took extra precautions to prevent this from happening. Thieves are Cancer of society. They will always be there and like Cancer, there's no cure.
  • 2 1
 there is a cure. people just don't have the stomach for it. Smile
  • 5 0
 Hey, for $25K I'll take the fall. I could ride out lockdown no worse than anyone else and even get paid!
  • 2 0
 State of California let’s the criminals get away with just about anything! So this is no surprise. This will keep happening because there isn’t much of a deterrent anymore. Good luck getting your stuff back and with all the extra money the company has made in the last 10 months I would think you could purchase some fortifications for your buildings.
  • 9 7
 On that note (pun intended), is everyone cool if I steal all the synthesizers, from the Calgary synthesizer museum? Just wondering? I have 8 dollars, and nothing better to do with my life. Yes, I'm advertising this as the worst villain in history.
  • 2 0
 @kramz: man just so you know I upvoted, I thought this was funny
  • 5 0
 there is a penis museum in Amsterdam................
  • 4 0
 @nojzilla: Looks like when I eventually die I won't be donating all of body to science after all!
  • 10 4
 I would probably feel bad if it were any other company.
  • 5 0
 Which is more questionable... the theft or Specialized’s decision to build a full suspension road bike prototype....?
  • 2 0
 What I want to know Who are the Fu.king scumbags who buy these bikes? There would be no market for thieves unless people buy stolen goods. Got that 5000$ bike on Craigslist list for 500$ . Fiu.k you you just help steal another bike!
  • 4 1
 Who would do such a thing? It wasn't until the latest iterations of the Enduro, SJ, and SJ Evo that Specialized actually made bikes worth stealing. This was clearly an act of absolute desperation.
  • 2 0
 Does Specialized not have the cash for a good security & surveillance system?? Dear Specialized, I do alarms and surveillance professionally. I will install a decent setup for an enduro s-works bike. Let me know. Thanks!
  • 1 0
 Many say these are too rare to sell, but they don't realize the more modern bikes (i.e. Sagan's or Jaroslav's) can be easily repainted and sold as custom painted bikes/frames. The components can also be worth some serious money (carbon wheelsets, Eagle/DI2 drivetrains, etc). The carbon bikes only have a serial number on a sticker underneath the clear coat, once it's sanded away or changed the frame is completely unidentifiable. And the aluminum frames, the stamped serial can be filled in during repainting. But even if the serial is left, how many people jump through hoops to try and run a background check on the serial with the manufacturer on a used frame they bought? Almost zero.

The theives are very likely cycling knowledgeable and targeted what they did for a reason.
  • 2 0
 wow a new low for Bay Area crime. I live here in South Bay, my car's been broken into 5 times in the last 5 years. The last time they stole a Topeak pump and pressure gauge.
  • 6 3
 What, and you want someone arrested for taking your hard-earned assets? Pffffffft....not in Cali. You must understand, it is not fair and you deserved to be a victim.
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: lol yes I deserve it evidently, just glad I drive an old 4runner and its cheap to fix out of pocket, compared to newer cars... calling the cops to report it, goodluck Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Track 45 right. Enhance 15 to 23...

ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb19881596/p4pb19881596.jpg
  • 3 0
 Have to think the thieves were after easy to sell current model bikes and the historic bikes were not the primary targets.
  • 2 0
 Remember the Cambria bike theft a year or so ago and everyone thought it was a inside job, well here ya go. Now the question is who to sue.
  • 3 0
 I would start investigating at this guy www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7tKTsz-QAo
  • 4 0
 *Actual value of bikes stollen = $15000*
  • 2 2
 I don't understand why companies don't have GPS trackers on bikes or have made something like this mandatory at this point. Bike theft is one of the worst documented crime wave by police. This would help immensely if someone would design a built in tracker of sorts.
  • 2 0
 Heard of privacy? German lawmakers have forced car makers to install a modem in case of accident.

I don't want this spyware on my bike.
  • 6 0
 @zoobab2: Are you kidding? Most of the world allows poorly programmed "smart" devices and cellular phones to intrude on their daily lives.
  • 3 0
 Everyone is wearing masks now- so much easier to rob a bank... don’t take this as advice kids...
  • 2 0
 New World Disorder V — Disorderly Conduct (2004)....3.36.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-kl0kkpIbQ

Please send reward before XMas Specialized.
  • 1 0
 I’ve been thinking about this pretty much all morning. I wish I knew who did this. My friends? Shoot I’d sell out my own mother for $25k. I can’t be the only one that wants a dream bike lol
  • 2 0
 16 bikes for $160,000??? Why didn't they steal the top of the line models? Yea they were probably smart enough to avoid the electronic shifting bikes, good call.
  • 1 0
 Sounds like they went for the cheap stuff. Lol.
  • 4 3
 If and when they are caught, this is California. They will get no jail time and will probably be given a reward if they claim the bikes were to be given to the homeless to get around on.
  • 3 0
 We had a sh*t head homeless f*ck steal some tools at a job site and wanted a reward for giving them back, changed his mind when my guy calmly went to the truck and came back with an ax handle.
  • 3 0
 Just sell a few carbon kids bikes....back in the black!
  • 1 0
 25k is probably close to what they got wholesale if specialized actually cares they would offer a lot closer to what they claim these bikes are worth
  • 3 0
 Collects insurance money Razz
  • 3 0
 Sounds like an inside job. Where’s Denzel
  • 3 2
 As someone who lives in Michigan and races fat bikes, I don't think Ned's Fat Bike Nat's bike is going to be particularly missed by anyone.
  • 3 0
 Hope their alarm co. Is lawyered up.
  • 2 0
 Everyone be on the lookout for a van full of Hotwalk Carbon pushbikes! But seriously. Totally lame.
  • 1 0
 Hear me out: Canyon funded the theft with their new investment, and it’s a warning shot to Specialized that they’re coming for the crown.
  • 1 0
 Bike theft is rampant. Local authorities do basically nothing about it. It's funny, many bike thefts cost more than car thefts, but they are not treated the same.
  • 2 0
 Bikes thieves a some off the worst humans, I still would like to know where are they selling them?
  • 3 0
 For those who wanna find these bikes...
1 word: Mexico
  • 2 5
 XENOPHOBE!!!!!!
  • 4 0
 Grand Theft Velo
  • 1 0
 Well that will see another rise in the price of their 2021 bikes, already been two since they were launched.
  • 4 2
 Who cares, fuck specialized
  • 2 0
 Wow I love the first white one, whose was it?
  • 1 0
 Mario Cippolini
  • 5 0
 Could you tell me more about the 2nd one, like...how much it might be worth?
  • 1 0
 @harryhood: Thanks!
  • 1 0
 @PHeller: Red Flag!
  • 13 12
 This is the only time I've heard about a bike theft and thought "y'know, I really couldn't care less!"
  • 1 1
 Well they couldn’t steal the patents could they!!! In all seriousness this massively sucks, sincerely hope they are recovered
  • 2 0
 You cannot steal imaginery property.
  • 4 3
 find them, cut their hands off then throw them in the ocean under a moonless night. I hate thieves . they are useless humans
  • 2 1
 Specialized needed to be better prepared for this

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU
  • 2 0
 a machine gun that makes things explode?
I'm calling wang.......
  • 9 6
 One less Specialized!
  • 2 1
 The down voters, the ones that probably bash every Yeti and the Dentist owners. Hahaha
  • 1 0
 If they get someone they know to turn them in they could get 25k to split maybe after some jail time?
  • 4 2
 Try to bully and sue more people so more bad karma could go back.
  • 2 0
 Hopefully this Robin Hood gives the profits to Ritchey
  • 1 0
 Tweakers probably won't get enough to pay themselves minimum wage out of this, sad.
  • 3 1
 Palmers bike? This sucks, damn thieves. Hope they catch them.
  • 2 0
 I will wonder how they come up with the $160000?
  • 1 0
 Insured value. They could auction many of those bikes, to bike people, and get that. Theses thieves most likely thought they were getting new bikes. Be easier to unload and make more money if they stole a box van full of new bikes in boxes than older bikes that only have real value to bike enthusiasts
  • 1 0
 Inside job. Looks like Mike spent a little too much on Christmas. #tippingpoint
  • 2 0
 You dummies should have grabbed the boxxes marked "turbo Kenevo"!
  • 2 0
 I'm just glad to hear the 4Runner was recovered.
  • 2 0
 These people can burn in hell
  • 1 0
 Is that the real value or just what they told their wives they are worth? Asking for a friend
  • 1 0
 former employees where my moneys at, probably just lookin for some payback lol
  • 2 1
 Thieves at Speci headquarters?? Nothing new to see here, some even get paid LOL
  • 1 0
 Who wants a bunch of old specialized road bikes anyway. I’ve got a couple I’m having trouble giving away
  • 1 0
 Jeez you would almost think that the headquarters was in Bellingham, WA!
  • 1 2
 why do i always get the feeling that something in the bike industry in general "gets stolen" all the time...jesus these stories are almost daily...
  • 9 7
 That's cause the bike industry kinda makes bike that are to expensive. I mean freg. Should A bike cost more than cars. I mean a bike is alot easier to take then cars right. I've gotten my bikes stolen alot in the past too its not a good feeling. I hope specialized retrieve the bikes.
  • 3 3
 @pballbiker: they dont. The equivalent car is 10-15x minimum more than a bike. Most cars are potmetal garbage with the bare minimum of even hardened steel.
  • 1 0
 @pballbiker: 1st off, I hope Specialized get these bikes back. Maybe if Sworks bikes were not so ridiculously expensive, the robbers would have driven right by. Bikes are too easy to steal and in this day and age, so why did Specialized not have any more camera's, especially inside, when this building had these extremely valuable and unreplaceable historical bikes? Furthermore, no alarm system or was this a Bikes 11 heist???
  • 1 0
 @pballbiker: Very stealthy and may have something to do with "The Italian Job"...
  • 1 1
 @pballbiker: MAYBE S-Works models are overpriced, but does that make them more of a target for thieves?! If a top end Specialized cost 6K, instead of 9K, will the thieves be like, 'Nah, not worth it'?!
If you told your non-biker friend, that your new carbon super-bike, cost 6 grand, would their jaw hit the floor less hard?!
IMO, arguments can be made for particular models being overpriced, but generally, high-end bikes were always gonna cost a bomb, bearing in mind the features & technology we now expect of them!
And, not to make light of your misfortune with stolen bikes, but an item that costs a lot, and can be carried away easily by a thief, requires appropriate security measures.
  • 1 1
 Thats why we nee new standards every Yearthe resell value of the Parts is verry low
  • 1 0
 definitly someone is gonna be sued!
  • 1 0
 Scumbags, hope they all rot.
  • 2 1
 You could call that break in EPIC...
  • 1 0
 There's nothing outstanding about that white van...
  • 1 0
 Parts are probably on Pinkbike Buy and Sell at this point lol
  • 1 0
 tinkoff got new bikes for team??
  • 1 0
 Now if these were Marin Bikes that would be a real story.
  • 1 0
 Restoring 3 Marins atm from the nineties.
  • 2 0
 Gone in fixie seconds?
  • 1 0
 Seems to me these thieves are highly specialized
  • 1 0
 Meth sure is a crazy drug
  • 1 0
 't must have been some specialised robbers...
  • 1 0
 people are getting desperate for a bike!
  • 1 0
 Put a f*cking camera up ????
  • 1 0
 Dang, that's a future shock.
  • 2 1
 Jesus! even bike co.s do Insurance jobs. lol
  • 2 1
 Hopefully they took the horst link patent with them.
  • 1 0
 Did anyone else call Corporal Mindy too wish her a happy day?
  • 1 0
 Specialized special announcement.... Prices will increase 8% next year.
  • 1 0
 I wonder h Insurance
  • 1 0
 TALK ABAOUT BAD KARMA
  • 2 1
 Suck it up big S !!!
  • 1 0
 it was me.
  • 1 1
 they're just road bikes lol. That full sus roadie sounds interesting tho
  • 1 1
 It's called a fence
  • 1 1
 This is hilarious
  • 2 3
 Finally the CEO got screwed.. he's a total piece of shit..
  • 2 3
 Douch bag
  • 4 6
 Must've been a peaceful protest
  • 7 10
 As long as the e-bikes are ok...
  • 5 0
 They were too heavy...
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